50-year members of The Florida Bar 1952-2002.

Congratulations to The Florida Bar's 50-year Members -- Class of 1952! Of the 152 lawyers marking their 50th year as a Florida Bar member, 90 of you have chosen to celebrate the occasion and, in your own words, share your stories with us in the following pages.

Among you are former judges, legislators, law professors, and Florida Bar leaders. Also prominent in your numbers are veterans of World War II and the Korean War, as well as founders of prominent law firms.

The entire membership of The Florida Bar celebrates your service to the profession, service to the community, and service to individuals by protecting their rights. We collectively thank each of you!

JUDGE ISRAEL N. ABRAMS (IZZY), Aventura

Family: Wife - Evelyn, deceased September 22, 2000; Children - Jerry Abrams Berger, Susan Helms, Mindy Fernandez, and Jeffry Scott Abrams.

Highlights: Earned my J.D. from the University of Miami in 1952; Judge of Industrial Claims, 1955-60; Judge of Industrial Claims, Pro Hac Vice, January 1992-February 1992; practice limited to workers' compensation; Bar Workers' Compensation. Rules Committee; chair, Program Annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference; chair, Program Friends of 440.

JUDGE ELWYN MITCHELL AKINS, Nashville, GA

Family: Wife - Ruth Henderson Akins.

Highlights: Born July 19, 1927, Trenton. Served in U.S. Transportation Corp., 1944; served in U.S. Merchant Marines; served in U.S. Army, 1945, Aleutian Islands. Graduated from high school after service; entered University of Florida, where I received my A.A. degree and later received my LL.B. County judge, Gilchrist County, 1953; deputy commissioner Florida Industrial Commission and/or judge of industrial claims, until July 31, 1992. Member, The Florida Bar.

GUARDO MEDOLAGO ALBANI, San Juan, PR

Family: Children - Olga, Ariel, Johanna, Adrianne.

Highlights: Born April 1, 1926, New York, NY. Admitted to Florida Bar and Puerto Rico Bar. Shortly after being admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar on May 7, 1956, I joined the brokerage firm of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith as a stockbroker and vice president for 20 years. In 1976, I became general manager and vice president of Prudential Bache for approximately a year-and-a-half.

Late 1977, I returned to Merrill Lynch as general manager and resident vice president for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands until retiring in 1991.

After four years of traveling and golf, two banker friends and I started a brokerage and investment boutique in 1995 called TCM Capital Markets of Puerto Rico. In December of 2000, we were bought out by Banco Bilabao Vizcaya, the second largest bank of Spain. At present, I'm a managing director in charge of special accounts with this institution (BBVA).

During these years, I was associated with various civic and professional organizations, being elected president of the San Juan chapter of the Jaycees and life senator. Also, president of the Santurce Rotary Club, president of the financial analysts of Puerto Rico, member of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce and last, but not least, secretary of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico during the Nixon era.

Without a doubt my legal training has been of unquestionable help in achieving the goals I set out to accomplish and to avoid the many pitfalls that one finds on the road of life.

GEORGE J. ALBOUM, Miami Beach

Family: Wife - Mildred T. Alboum; Children - Lili Ann, Joel, and Ronald.

Highlights: I was born August 21, 1920 in Newark, N.J. Graduated Columbia High School, South Orange, N.J., 1937, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. College and Law School, 1941; Rutgers University Law Review Board; and was adjunct professor of real estate at the University of Miami. Member, the Dade County Bar Grievance Committee. Member, Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity. I was admitted to the following bars: New Jersey, 1943; Florida, 1952; New Jersey Federal, 1943; and the Florida Federal, 1952.

JUDGE EMERSON ALLSWORTH, Plantation

Family: Wife - Shirley Allsworth, married 50 years this December; Children - four sons, Scott Allsworth - attorney; John Allsworth - school administrator; Terrance Allsworth - ski instructor; and Mark Allsworth - attorney; Grandchildren - five.

Highlights: Served as Broward County prosecuting attorney (county solicitor) for four years, having been elected county-wide. Served eight years in the legislature, having been elected as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from Broward County. Served four years part-time as a municipal judge. Served as a member of the 1967 Florida Constitution Revision Commission, having been appointed by the governor. Served for 15 years as a member of the University of Miami Board of Trustees. Served as president of the University of Miami General Alumni Association; and president of the alumni association. Past president of Broward County United Way; past chair of Broward County United Way Annual Campaign. Past exalted ruler of Ft. Lauderdale Elks Club; past president of the United Cerebral Palsy in Broward County. Graduate accountant.

ISHAM LAFAYETTE ANDERSON (IKE), Monticello

Family: Wife - Mary Catherine Anderson; Children - Isham Lafayette Anderson II, Joseph Duff Anderson, Sheffield Ayers Anderson.

Highlights: Born in Monticello, November 18, 1925. My practice area was general practice. I have enjoyed it all. Great profession.

L. JULES ARKIN, Miami

Family: Wife - Shirley Arkin; Children - Richard and Gary.

Highlights: Born March 19, 1929, New York, NY. One of my greatest highlights is that both my sons are members of The Florida Bar. I am a member of The Florida Bar, U.S. District Court, and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. I am now retired.

EDWARD ARONS, Pahokee

Family: Wife - Raquel; Children - Norman Arons and Leslie Snider.

Highlights: Upon graduation from University of Miami Law School, I was accepted for membership in The Florida Bar. However, before I could begin practicing law, I was called to duty in the Korean War. After serving two years, including Korea, I was discharged with the rank of 1st Lt.

In the interim, I decided that I was no longer interested in pursing a career in law and also Miami was no longer the small, friendly community that I had previously known. Still wishing to remain in South Florida, I finally located in the small farming community of Pahokee, on the shores of Lake Okeechobee.

I opened and operated a small department store for more than 40, years. The law work that I did was mostly incidental to, and benefitting my customers, who were exclusively African-American, and consisted of divorce, legal papers, and wills. It was just a sideline to keep my hand in and cover my dues to the Bar.

I did have a "vast and extensive" practice of giving free advice and legal assistance to those unable to afford the same.

Upon retiring from my mercantile business, I quickly became bored and, wishing to contribute something back to the community, I became a substitute teacher. I have been at this for the past three years and, if my temper and mental health allows me, I hope to continue in the endeavor.

Although it has not been a particularly adventurous life, devoid of the action and glory of the courtroom, I have been satisfied with my role in society.

JOY CHARLOTTE BARKAN, North Miami Beach.

Family: Children - Bernard Roth, Jesse Roth, Shari Glixman, Larisa Greenfield.

Highlights: Graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in 1947; University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Business Administration, 1948; and the University of Miami with a J.D. cum laude in 1952. Was in the first group of women admitted to a legal fraternity. Member of the North Dade Bar Association Board of Directors, Florida Association of Women Lawyers; YM-YWHA Board of Directors; member of presidium of America Mizrachi Women; board of directors of Temple Or Olom; board of directors, Young Israel of North Miami Beach; board of directors, AMIT. Panelist - medical mediation-circuit court; arbitrator, American Arbitration Association. My career highlights include appearing before the United States Supreme Court as co-counsel with Arthur Roth. I was privileged to have the opportunity to be a member of The Florida Bar.

JUDGE GERALD S. BERKELL, Pembroke Pines

Family: Wife - Mildred Berkell; Children - Fran Berkell Rafferty, Susan Loewenstein.

Highlights: Judge, City of North Miami Beach, 1969-71. Past president of North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Past president of the North Dade Exchange Club, past chair of Planning and Zoning Board of North Miami Beach.

JUDGE EUGENE N. BETTS (Gene), Pompano Beach.

Family: Wife - Anne.

Highlights: Born August 30, 1922 in Washington, D.C. Former attorney for the City of Pompano Beach and the City of Parkland, attorney for Hillsborough Improvement and Maintenance District; former judge of industrial claim. I have practiced in the private sector since 1967. My practice was in workers' compensation and probate.

JUDGE EARL C. BRANNING, Zephyrhills.

Family: Wife - Janet.

Highlights: Born July 12, 1923, North Chinchilla, PA.

Member: The Florida Bar and the Federal Bar. Main area of practice: workers' compensation.

Upon returning to the states after serving in the European Theater with General Patton's Third Army and in the Battle of the Bulge, I attended Siena College, Loudonville, NY for two years. In 1948, I transferred to Stetson University undergraduate school for one year, after which I entered Stetson College of Law, DeLand, from which I was graduated in 1952. I began my career as an insurance claims adjuster, but left to establish a private practice of law in Venice. After two years, I returned to the insurance field in West Palm Beach, but left to return to private practice in Lantana until 1967, when I became executive director for the Legal Service Program of the Office of Economic Opportunity in Ft. Pierce. In 1968, I received an appointment as a hearing examiner (in 1973 name changed to administrative law judge) with the Office of...